Book signing continued....

Well dear friends thank you for coming to my blog site and looking at my posts.

My last post was to do with my book signing.....

This post is to tell the story of what happened.

I can sum it up in one word, 'nothing', 'ingenting', 'nada', 'niente', 'niets', ekkert, I think that is enough ways of putting the point across.

After advertising in the local newspaper, who got the advert wrong by advertising a cake book sale, and putting up lots of posters, alerting the local radio station and using many social media sites, the event attracted no new buyers. If my friends hadn't come to support me and eat Victoria Sponge Cake and drink the coffee and tea provided I would have had a very lonely first book signing.  

I thought before Christmas, with ideas of what to buy for your loved one foremost in people's minds, this event would be of interest to a market of discerning Christian readers. Having received replies that people were coming, and hopes high, this absence of customers or potential buyers was a hard cake to chew, and my pride ran out of the cake like the jam when you bite into a jammy doughnut. 

So it is back to the drawing board.....

Of course when I wrote this book, I had plans for a big Christian publishing company taking it on and doing all the marketing and promoting, and the message travelling to all four corners of the earth. It would be a success because I had answered God's call to write it. 

Yes I was naive, but I was also a poorly housewife and mother, (in the sense of not been well at the time) with a thousand other roles to occupy my day with, that drank at my limited energy levels. Taking on the role of marketing and promoting my book was not even remotely on the radar.  

With an introvert nature and speaking to audiences a feared thing, the way forward was clear. The book needed a large publisher to take it on. 

However this did not happen, my book was seen as not a typical Christian read. It was too different!

So another route was followed....

My book was published, but by a small company who did not specialize in marketing and promotion. 'God's ways are not our ways', He knows the beginning and the ending of this path. His path is one of trust. 

It appears that there is a lot of help 'out there', certainly if you are able to part with money, but as the book needs to make a profit in order to produce money for publicizing, marketing and promotion, it appears that the road will be trodden with feet rather than in a fast car. 

Lamentations 3:21-26

 This is what comes to mind,

    and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s gracious love we are not consumed,
    since his compassions never end.
23 They are new every morning—
    great is your faithfulness!
24 “The Lord is all I have,” says my soul,
    “Therefore I will trust in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the person who searches for him.
26 It is good to hope and wait patiently
    for the Lord’s salvation.

This does not mean that I don't continue to keep trying just because my first attempt at book signing was unsuccessful. Rather it shows me that in all things there are challenges to be overcome and learned from. God grows things slowly, in His time and for His glory. This book was never for my own glory, but to bring others closer to Him, to be drawn to a more personal relationship with God through every day events and challenges. And how we must continually say 'yes' to what He wants us to do each day. 

My prayer now is a heart felt "I trust you God" because He lay it on my heart to write this book and He will fulfill his promises to prosper as Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

God bless you all.

("How to make Victoria Sponge" by Margaret Kazmierczak in Kindle and paperback through Amazon)

Book Signing

I am going to be signing books on  

Saturday 13 December 2014

from 12.00-14.00

at

Rainbow book shop

40 East Street, Wimborne, 

Dorset, BH21 1DX

England

What people have been saying about this book

***** star reviews on Amazon

"It is incredibly compelling"

"I fell in love with the Sponge family"

"I found myself laughing and crying about the daily events this family came up against"

This book is powerful and unique"

"A really delightful book, thoughtful, sensitive, faith filled, touching, funny and poignant"

"Wonderful book! I heartily recommend this book"

"The ending of the book was completely unexpected, mind-blowing and empowering"

"To me, this is the theme of the book - seeds being planted even on the weariest of days. Nothing can interfere with Christ's love being lived out on a day-to-day basis"

"This book will inspire you"

Author Margaret Kazmierczak of

How to make Victoria Sponge

(A family based Christian novel)

Book also available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format. Order early for Christmas so as not to be disappointed.

Why is Victoria Sponge special?

Can you remember the first time you fell in love, really deeply fell in love?

That gazing into space feeling totally immersed in a world so wonderful that you missed your train stop. 

The face that you just cannot get out of your mind.

The kisses that touched you fondly and made you feel so very special.

The longing to see the loved one when apart.

The closeness and wanting to share everything.

Being rapped up together.

The words "I love you" ringing in your ears.

Music meaning so much more because the words just seemed to speak to you.

The impulse to hug yourself and twirl around in circles to an imaginary concert being played entirely for your entertainment. 

That look that says "I am in love."

That comment, "something about you is different."

The idea that everything is going to be wonderful from now on because you have the love of your dreams in your life now.

Well that is what makes Victoria Sponge special.

She is in love, deeply in love. 

In love with God. 

She wants to talk to Him, be with Him, share with Him. Be totally rapped up in His love. 

Her world is absorbed with conversations, ideas, longings, hopes, joys and sorrows that she shares with God. And she knows that He is listening like the attentive lover that He is. 

Victoria's story is a love story, reaching up to Heaven and God reaching down to earth, where Vicki is submerged in the everyday concert of living. 

When people ask me why so many prayers/petitions/conversations, I reply, because when you are in love you want to do everything together. Because you love to be united as one.

God is so interested in our lives, He never bores of hearing us talk to Him. He does not grow tired of us. 

He is our Heavenly Bridegroom and we His bride. His delight in us is new each day. He cant wait for us to wake up so that He can say, 'Hello I love you', and to hear us respond with 'I love you too' in return. 

His passion for us is overwhelming, and Victoria understands that emotion. 

You may think that you can not pray as often as she does, but all she does is talk about her day in a friendly way, like you would do if your best friend was standing or sitting next to you. How many of you, like me, chat to themselves? And no it is not a sign of madness, it is a sign that we want connection. 

Allow God to connect with you today. He is a wonderful lover and the greatest listener you will ever know. 

Victoria Sponge is special, but she is a fictional character, you are not. Therefore you are entitled even more so to the special Graces that are spoken of in the book. 

Be blessed.

Be beloved.

Be God's bride.

Margaret (Author of How to make Victoria Sponge)

What if music accompanied your manic morning!

I expect you have had one of these mornings, but if not sit back, read and laugh with me or if you have you can still laugh and then sympathize with the mayhem.

6.45 am the alarm goes off. 

(Oh what a beautiful mornin' Oh what a beautiful day 

I've got a beautiful feelin' Everything's going my way 

- Oscar Hammerstein) 

I jump out of my skin as my daughter crashes into our room demanding why I have not woken her earlier as she needs to have a shower and wash her hair before the mob get up.

(Give me peace in my heart keep me praising, give me peace in my heart I pray, give me peace in my heart keep me praising, keep me praising till the end of day!)

7.00 am 

Three teenagers chorus at the same time, mum, have you ironed my jeans, mum have you found my homework yet, mum where is my diary? 

(I'm bored
I don't want to go to school
Don't want to be nobody's fool
I want to be me
I want to be me
I don't want to be sweet and neat
I don't want someone living my life for me
I want to be free
I'm going to turn this world inside out
Going to turn suburbia upside down
Going to walk the streets, scream and shout
Going to crawl through the alleyways, being very loud - Toyah)

7.30 am

Who has eaten all the cereal, you are wearing my shoes again, where is my hair brush, who has stolen the hair dryer? Don't look at me like that!

(Am I going crazy?
Come on and say in taste
Am I too lost to face it?
And what will it cost to escape?

Nothing is right
I'm so scared - Korn) 

8.00 am 

Mum, did you pack my PE kit? Darling, I have to go I am going to be late. Can you pick up my dry cleaning? Mum, the bus has gone, I need a lift to school. The cat has been sick, don't step in the......

(I want to break free....  - Queen)

8.30 am

Silence. 

(I will survive - Gloria Gaynor) 

Have a blessed day

Margaret

Another wonderful review of "How to make Victoria Sponge".

As written on Goodreads and Amazon.com 

http://www.amazon.com/How-make-Victoria-Sponge-journey-ebook/dp/B00NKDCWEG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1414522511&sr=1-1

Dana Goodman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Margaret Kazmierczak's book How to make Victoria Sponge was incredibly compelling. I fell in love with the Sponge family. The character, Victoria Sponge, continually responds to life's messiness with love and grace. In the most heart wrenching moments in the book, especially after her son Johnny is maliciously bullied at school, Vicki turns to Jesus so his love can smooth over all the rough spots. I found myself laughing and crying about the daily events this family came up against, yet how graciously Bob and Victoria (the mother and father) responded to their children and to their day-to-day challenges. One quote that was highlighted to me in the book was when, after a really traumatizing day, Victoria says, "may I have planted [Jesus'] seed into the lives of others through my work and actions, so that when [Jesus'] rain shines upon them they produce a rich harvest." To me, this is the theme of the book--seeds being planted even on the weariest of days. Nothing can interfere with Christ's love being lived out on a day-to-day basis. On her most gritty day, Victoria has her evening prayer and Jesus says to her, "Vicki, I asked you to be with me in the Garden of Gethsemane, to stay awake and be of comfort to me in my time of anguish. You were not found asleep or failing in your response." Vicki then asks, "When was I in Gethsemane Lord?" He gently responds, "When you listened to your son's anguish I was weeping too and when your heart was breaking at the sight of your son's agony, my sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood." Victoria's intimacy with Jesus during her most trying moments is what made me love this book so much. We can all find ourselves in this book, and in doing so we can live our lives differently, full of grace and hope and love even during despairing times. I would highly recommend getting to know the Sponge family in this beautifully written book.

The first shall be last....

"Oh Lord, I understand that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. But could you organise a warm shower for  me just for  once? I have served my family this morning and the least I ask for is a little bit of consideration. You said ask and you shall receive, well I am asking for a shower with hot water. It's not much!"

This is an exert from my book "How to make Victoria Sponge."

I think we can all identify with this little scenario!

God bless

Margaret

Words - choose wisely what you read.

Having recently done a couple of book reviews I have been very aware that the printed word has the potential to damage or uplift. Those first words of 'I liked the book' or 'I could not get on with this book' could lead the reader into either deciding to purchase the material or not. 

Sometimes the message is personal and only the reader can decide if the book is right for them, so a judgement for all is rather shaky. If we rely on reviews then we may never read the book that might change our lives. 

What if an atheist read the Bible? His/her review would be very different from a Christian reading it, or indeed someone seeking God. 

Books are personal preferences. Most of the books that I read are from personal recommendation rather than written reviews. That is probably because I am specific about what I read as I value what enters my personal space, and want only words that uplift and not damage. 

I have recently read a book that I am struggling with to review because it has elements in it, that as a Christian, I don't subscribe to. The damage of suggestion is very real and because it comes under the banner of Christian can lead the reader astray. 

I feel that when doing a review we must be true to ourselves and our values and relate that to the reader, so that they then can make up their own mind if the book will speak to them in the way that is helpful rather than harmful to them.

When we buy other merchandise for ourselves we try to be discernible. Therefore because words are powerful motivators or destructive demotivators they can sink into our subconscious, it is important to surround ourselves with messages that uplift the soul and help us to sing. As spiritual beings we need feeding, and it is important that we eat healthily. 

Music is a classic example it can uplift you when you are struggling and bring you to a better place if you listen to the right message. On the other hand it can also lead you to the depths of despair when it is moody and dark. So it is with reading and even more importantly with our lives. 

As a christian delving into things that are not Christ centered is a problem. Our lives are spiritual and we need to discern  our reading matter. I am not saying that we should not be eclectic, however we need to aware that the printed word seeps into areas of our mind and can influence us. 

I love reading and enjoy a range of styles and genres. I celebrate authors and their talents. There are some that I would not touch with a barge pole because their books are dark. But that is my personal preference. My rule of thumb is 'how do I feel once I have read a book?'. Am I encouraged, motivated, enthused, happy, hopeful, or did it make me feel, helpless, hopeless, on edge, dis at ease, or uncomfortable deep down. 

A review in a way, if it is honest, can help a prospective reader decide if that particular book is going to be helpful for them, like a healthy meal. Or if it is going to be something that might make them feel dis at ease. Of course this is a 'feeling' perspective and those that are 'thinking' people will probably decide what I have written is rubbish!  I can live with that.

Words - choose wisely what you read.

Margaret (author of How to make Victoria Sponge)